While Sony is responsible for the widely popular PlayStation 5 console, the company lags behind rival brands when it comes to supporting video game features on Sony TVs. Initially, there were one or two small steps, such as the launch of Perfect for PlayStation 5. Then Sony introduced a pair of exclusive PS5 / Sony TV interactions.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that the likes of Samsung, TCL, and especially LG have shown off a lot more gaming features in their TVs up to this point. What new gaming features appeared in Sony TVs in 2023. Will Sony be able to compete with other brands in the gaming segment?
Gaming features in 2023 Sony TVs
Sony announced in early March 2023 that its 2023 TV lineup will be getting a number of new gaming features that should make all models more efficient not only on the Sony PS5 , but on all existing gaming devices, including PC games. One of the innovations is the introduction of a new game menu.
New gaming features for Sony TVs in 2023
The game menu will be accessible using the button on the remote control. This feature is activated whenever the TV is in game mode. The feature will allow users to open an on-screen menu during gameplay that contains image information and settings related directly to gameplay.
At launch, Sony stated that the look and feel of the menu had yet to be finalized. But in its current form, as well as specifying the resolution of the incoming signal, the in-game menu provides an option to enable/disable VRR.
The menu will also include motion blur reduction options, a Black Equalizer option, a Crosshair option, a Crosshair Type option, a Screen Size option, and a link to a more advanced settings menu. Let’s take a look at each of these new options in turn.
Enable/Disable VRR
The VRR on/off switch speaks for itself. It simply allows you to enable or disable the variable refresh rate. It all depends on whether the consumer wants to use a locked frame rate, which can be prone to screen tearing, or whether they prefer to have a frame rate that can vary.
Bravia XR is perfect for playstation 5
Motion blur reduction
The Motion Blur Reduction option allows you to choose from several levels of motion compensation processing depending on how much input lag the gamer wants to add to the gameplay.
Most likely, he will want to leave this option enabled in games with quick reactions, such as the Call of Duty shooter. It’s not hard to find that this improves the game experience. On the other hand, in RPGs or adventure games where response time is less important, this feature can be turned off.
Black Equalizer and Scope
The Black Equalizer option allows you to increase the brightness of only the darkest parts of the game image by several levels. This will make it easier to see enemies in the game that may be hiding in the shadows. The Crosshair (Scope) option lets you bring the crosshair to the center of the screen for better aiming, while Scope Type lets you choose from a range of different designs.
As mentioned above, the crosshair remains fixed in the center of the frame to improve aiming in first-person games and reduce motion sickness. The crosshair can be in the form of a dot or a cross in green, red or white.
Screen size
The Screen Size option is perhaps the most interesting new feature in the in-game menu, as it supports something that other TVs don’t currently have. This is the ability to dramatically reduce the image on the screen when a gamer is playing a game with fast dynamics.
In games like this, it’s useful to be able to see the whole picture at once without having to move your eyes around it. You can adjust the size and position of the image almost as you wish. The scaling mechanism involved worked great during demos at the Sony event where new gaming features were unveiled.
HDMI 2.1
Chances are that Sony’s new line of TVs will still only offer two HDMI 2.1 ports to support today’s full range of gaming features, instead of four. This conclusion should be drawn from the fact that Sony is going to use the 2023 MediaTek Pentonic 1000 for its 4K TVs.
It’s also a pity that only Sony’s new A95L flagship TV will support Dolby Vision gaming mode for gaming and a Multiview option where gamers can run two sources on the screen at the same time without compromising input lag.
However, the nice thing is that most of Sony’s new gaming features extend far beyond the new 2023 TV lineup. This really represents a significant step forward for a brand that has so many promises and room for more achievement in this area.
